Two weeks ago, Fells was diagnosed with a MRSA infection while undergoing a routine treatment for an ankle injury. For those who do not know about the disease, MRSA is an extremely life-threatening staph infection. MRSA is particularly dangerous because one of its key characteristics, according to the Mayo Clinic, is its ability to become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat typical staph infections.

Over the course of the NFL veteran’s 8-year career, Fells has recorded 114 receptions, 1,334 yards, and 12 touchdowns. The 32-year old UC Davis grad was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Falcons in 2006. On January 7, 2014, Fells was signed by the Giants.

It’s easy to groan about fantasy football statistics and complain about the lack of valuable receivers besides Odell Beckham Jr. on the Giants offense. But stop right there. Unlike your typical hamstring pull or ankle sprain, Fells is currently experiencing one of the most life-threatening diseases out there. Fells’ infection shows that even though we may think of football players as superheroes who battle it out on the field, in reality, they’re just as susceptible to illnesses as everyone else.

Keep tabs on Daniel Fells over the next coming weeks. Not because Larry Donnell isn’t racking up ideal numbers — which he isn’t — or because you may have had Fells on your fantasy bench in a 16-team league. Check up on him because for once, he’s an NFL player who instead of being the invincible hero, is the vulnerable victim. And as New York sports fans, it’s our job to stick by his side anyway.

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I’m a current junior at Georgetown University, majoring in American Studies and minoring in Journalism. While I’m hugely obsessed with Georgetown basketball, I’m also a pretty serious New York Giants and New York Yankees fan. In addition to EliteSportsNY, I also have experience writing for iSportsWeb and work as a sports editor on my campus paper.